Packing assembly



R. H. MUELLER PACKING ASSEMBLY Jan. 9, 1951 Filed Dec 27, 1946 www@ Inventor ROBERT H. MUELLER Patented Jan. 9, 1951 OFFICE l Y PCKING:ASSEMBLY v SRobex-.t H. .Mueller, Decatur, :Ill., assigner to n Mueller Co.,:De. catu1-, Ill., a corporationqofgll- .appncatimnecember 21, isiagsrial No. 718,753

imam. (o1. 28s-.Pfam

The present .invention relates to .a packing pressed ipacking ring employed in the assembly.

assembly for irods, shafts vor 'the like, particularl :such rodsvor shafts as are vmovableina chamy containing fluid `under pressurathe "packing asf.- A' .v ure '3"is a partial sectional view -of the as- 'sembly being provided to retain `the fluid-within 5 .as ,.Iy, :showing the laminated packing'beng inthe chamber while permitting movement of `the serted into its receiving bowl -or recess and prior rod, stem or shaft. .f tofth'e compression of the packing.

The invention is particularlyusefu-l in connec- `Figure 4 is a sectional view, similar'to Figure 3, `tion with packing assemblies `positiolri'e` around fof Vthe packing assembly after the laminated a valve stem. The drawings v'gener a; l liy vlustrate v10 packing ring has been compressed into thebowl. the use of the assemblyiin connectie thgagate Figure '5 `is'fa .view similar to Figure '4, of va valve stem, `butit `will `be *obvio -4 he :asjimodificationof the assembly, -use`fu1"'for connsembly Acould be usefully employ ,Wit other -ing higherpressures, in whichthe packing rey,VA figure "2a is a partallsectional view through minated packing shown in :Figure '2.

j vtypes of valve operatingA shaftsor rods, such as ceivingbowl or recess, andthevfl'aminated packfin connection with the operating `stems `'of flre 15v ingemployedthereimare offagreater depth.

hydrants and similartdevies. y A u y -Figiu'effifisa view'sim'ilar `tothe preceding iig- A principal `objectofi` e invention is lto -prou ures, :wherein the packing is contained ina bowl vide for 'the compression .-.packi-ng material jor recess formed in'a packing glandorfol-lower, `around the stem to be scale by aresilient'ime'ans rather --than iin .the housing of the valvejgor other specically shown in the formf-'o'f a resilient or 20 ,similar member.

flexible metal vwashenwhich is ilexedbyfthe pack- Figurc'? is an enlarged vvertical sectional view Ying as the latter is compressed, in such `manner Ythrough .the packing ring of Figures '2 land-2a that .said washer continues to supply ya 4powerful after the same has been compressed, and-showing .Y .pressure against 'the compressed packing while ythe relation of the packing laminations to Vthe in use. Ancillary to .the preceding objective, .it 25valve or'otherstem, particularly the manner in nisallpurpose of the invention"to provide an ar- 'whichfthe edges of "theialternate rubber ldiscs of rigementof A the-typeijeferredfto-figbve,wherein fthe laminated' -packing'tend toroverlap the inter.- "e 'action ofiiui'djunder pressure fwfithiri the. mediate 'fabric layersofthefringthus-presenting housing or chamber Ifl` fwhichjmay tenfdto" asubstantiallyf'solid rubber contact with'the spr.-v

.'f-eiecuby its action -on 4thepackingI 'of increasing I lteriorvva'llgof therecessor'bowl. fitheepressure .Constantly applied `-by lthe filexible In E igure 1,wh'i ch is a view appearing jinjany f `was'lfier, wherebythepackingisjmadetighterEby coependingfapplicationreferredto,jthe,housingmrf any increase in thegpressure of the .uid'within fbody-fof'afvalveaor the'lke isshownrat l0, having .the housing. .35 ,an-buter flanged end l2 through which there is "witiifeiiuned Equipmentror Adjustment-sini g5 A fm-therobjeot of the .invention "is to provide anope'nilng M 'foi-the valve stem I6, 'The valve .a packing assembly of thetypelreferred to above, stem maybe-ofthe,conventional non-rising type,

wherein the pressure-of fthe-epa'ckingf-maybeine- [-liaving-'a .vcollar'ljwhich is `.retained or gripped 'l chanically regulated, ld uringfcthe 'use :of the as- ,finfarecess gintheuter faceof vthe flange I2 by sembly, vby tightening fa nuit or fllowerfagains't v40 a secondanged'member 20, the latter having fa ,thev .flexible washer, .in r-.such manner as ito in- 1simil@arboreI2l for the extending end ol" the valve' crease its ilexure and v@thus the pressure-exerted stem. vI-fhehanged member '20 is 4bolted to the .'by't'on the packingmaterial. v f flange 'I 2- by 'the conventionalbo1tsi22, and iti-hais yIn the-drawings, which are 'illustrative voi. rscv- ,-"va.cuplike .packingrecessu 'in its outside face, 'eralarrangemellts of -the Vpackingfas'clelriby, 'and 455i; `vpacking bei-nglcompressed in the recessby a ofbneparticularf-use of fthe 'packingin conneegland nur zaxwhich is threaded finto 'an outer tionwith valvesfof the'fgatetype: r @cylindrical extension 28 `oi? the lhanged member Figure v1 is ia vertical Y-sectional `View through 2.0,"asjgenerallydescribedin the said co-pending .the outer gend fof a valve housing, -Jshowing Ythe lapplicatio 'i @veri-ail ,arrangement of one form-:of @packing:as.y y

D 4'I-*he-va'lve*stem has -a square or other form- .ive azwrenchto rturn 'the lvalve "between n 'and iclosedpositions. This .head jalso serves Vsiliioning 4andsupporting member for the ,ofa wrench whichjcomprises V-angoutl ggrcup 32 `and an 'insidefguidingsleeve, sleeve 134 is interiorly formed 'to `the ate.=applicationbeingffilediofevendate.he .e-

. a,nd.the Like.

-Figure -2-is :a view Aof Tthe lassembled yand 'compolygonal lhead-30, whichis primarily adapted s and 46, whereby wrench prongs I8 depending from the ange 5U of the working cup 32 may operate the gland nut to compress the packing as described in that application.

Referring to Figure 4, the packing recess in the outer flange 2l) is shown as having a curved or bowl-like wall 52, which tapers inwardly from a ledge 54 toward the valve stem I6. In the design shown, the wall of the recess is formed on substantially the arc of a circle. It is in this recess that the packing is compressed by the follower 25, being distorted in such manner as to be selfadjusting or self-regulating, and to mechanically increase its pressure upon increase of pressure of fluid within the chamber or valve I O.

As shown in Figures 2 and 2a, the packing is made up in a lring R, which is rectangular in section, there being alternate layers 56 and 58 of different types of packing material, such as relatively thick fabric packing material discs 56 and relatively thin rubber discs 58, which are suitably pressed and bonded` together and are dipped in and impregnated with hot tallow or other lubricating substance to prevent them from becoming dry when the packing is in storage or in use. The packing ring may be made up in two sections, to facilitate its being positioned around the valve stem, or the valve stem head may be removable lsurface 52 of the packing recess.

face extends above said ledge, thus leaving a space 64 between the outer edge surface ofthe washer and the ledge, so that the gland nut may be further' tightened during use of the equipment to increase the tension on the washer to take up any wear which may have'occurred. It will be noted in Figure 4 that when the gland nut has been threaded inwardly to such an extent as to leave a space 64 within the washer 60 which is substantially equal to the width of said washer,

`the central part of the washer is sprung Aout- .wardly as at 66, but not to its elastic limit, so that the washer maintains a constant powerful pressure against the packing to wedge it tightly against the valve stem I6, as well as against the In fact, by reason of the dimensions of the parts, including the packing, whereby a space 64 is left when the gland nut is threaded up to an extent tight enough for usethe washer 6G is applying pressure on the packing throughout the entire radial surface of the packing from the stem I6 to the sides of the bowlf52. It will be noted that the recess 52 in the forward face of the gland nut 2 6 permits the resilient washer 60 to flex outwardly as shown. The depth of the recess 62 will depend on the flexibility of the washer 60 and should be great enough to permit this washer to ex outwardly as far as necessary.

As shown in Figure 7, the inner and outer edges of the rubber discs 58 of the packing tend to become expanded or stretched out around the f edges of the fibre laminations of packing 56, so

as by being pinned on the endiof the stem to permit mounting of the packing, ange member 2U, gland nut 44 and the resilient washer now to be described.

Turning now to Figure 3, the packing ringR is initially placed in the recess 52 around the stem and it is obvious that the ring is initially of considerably kgreater volume than the recess. Disposed outwardly of the packing ring is a metal disc or washer' 66 of resilient material and design. This washer is of such material and strength that it has a high degree of elasticity and when flexed outwardly adjacent its center, it will retain a constant and powerful tendency to return to its plane as in Figure 3, thus exerting pressure on the packing as hereinafter described. The washer 6G is of a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the packing ring R, so that Y a portion of its area adjacent its perimeter extends out over the ledge 5G of the flanged member 2U, and it is against the outer side of this perimeter surface that the forward face of the gland nut 26 acts. The forward face of the gland nut is recessed to a substantial depth as at S2, this recess'generallyextending from the stem I6 outwardly to a point directly over or in line with the inner edge of the ledge 54.

After the packing has been arranged inthe recess shown in Figure 3, the gland nut 26 is tightened to thus wedge or distort the packing downwardly into the curved recess cavity, causing the packing to be deformed to the cross-sectional shape of the recess. i

It vwill be observed in Figure 4 that the gland nut need not be tightened to such an extent as to force the packing into the recess below the ledge 54, in fact, it is preferable for the packing to at least be initially adjusted so that its outer surthat substantially an unbroken rubber surface is' presented to the valve stern I6 and to the surface 52 of the bowl of the packing recess.

With the packing under compression as shown in Figure 4, and when the pressure within the housing is increased as by opening the Valve, any pressure of uid which can pass outwardly around the stem I6 engages the packing and exerts an outward pressure on said packing, but

i this outward pressure only tends to inc ease the flexure of the resilient spring washer (if) .thic': in turn increases the mechanical pressure of the packing inwardly toward the stem and against the bowl 52, thus giving the assemblya self-regulating characteristic against variations in the pressure to be controlled. As the parts become worn, the packing may be tightened by setting up onthe gland nut 25 in the manner disclosed in Figure 1 and referred to in my co-- pending application.

, A variation of the invention is disclosed in Figure 5, which might be applicable for use in the control of higher pressures. In this view, the outer flange member 25) is provided with a recess comprising a somewhat deep substantially cylindrical portion I0 terminating in an inner portion I2 of curved configuration and crosssection, the depth of the recess in this embodiment is somewhat greater than the depth shown in Figure 4, being almost on the order of twice as deep. AIn this ca se, the packing ring is formed, to a thickness corresponding with the depth of the recess, but the manner of its compression in the recess wouldbe generally the same, and as illustrated in Figure 5.

In Figure 6, a further modification isshown. in which the packing recess is providedina modified type of gland nuty 26. The flexible. washer 82 retains the packing in the recess 80 in the same manner, and may be bent inwardly adjacent its center to maintain compressionon the packingv as prevouslydescribed, there being a recess 84 in the outer'face of the gland member 86. To prevent leakage through the threads of the gland nut 25', a further packing washer 88 should be provided on the ledge of the member 86 around the recess 84. The operation of this assembly, in the 'compression of the packing, and bending of the washer, is generally the same as in the preferred embodiments 'of the invention. Pressure within the housing does tend to tighten the packing, but mechanical adjustment of the packing is inferior to thatv provided in the preferred embodiments. f Y f Various changes of the structure shown herein are evident. For large sizes of valves, the gland follower may have a fiange and bolt connection, instead of the threads shown, but will be capable of tightening to mechanically regulate the compression of the packing. While the tapered shape of the packing recess may be varied, in all forms of the assembly it should be such as to direct pressure against the shaft, and its inwardly decreasing radius serves to permit the packing to be tightly wedged toward the lower end of the recess. The resilientwasher E9 is preferably made of phosphor bronze, although it could be made of steel and cadmium plated to make it non-corrosive.

I claim:

1. Equipment of the character described comprising a housing having a bore therethrough, a stem extending from said housing through said bore, packing means in the outer end of said bore and around said stem which is self-regulating against the pressure of fluid in said housing, said means comprising a recess in said housing having an open end, said housing being formed with a ledge or shoulder surrounding the open end of said recess, said recess tapering from its outer open end toward said stem and a packing ring in said recess formed of non-rigid material which assumes the shape of and lls. said recess when compressed therein, said packing ring being of suicient volume when compressed tok extend beyond the open end of said recess, a resilient annular metal washer surroundingsaid stem and engaging the protruding surface of said packing ring adjacent the center of said washer, the surface of said washer adjacent its edge Vextending outwardly beyond said packingand over said ledge or shoulder, and a packing compressing gland having means for adjusting same with respect to said housing inwardly toward said recess, said gland having an outer annular surfacewhich forces the edge area of said washer inwardly toward the rim or shoulder of said housing, whereby the protruding portion of the packing ring exes the central portion of said washer outwardly when the packing is compressed, the resilience of the washer maintaining the compression of the packing ring during the use of the equipment, said gland having a central depression in its forward face positioned outwardly of the central edge of said washer to permit the control portion thereof to be flexed outwardly during the compression of the packing ring.

2..-Equipment of the character described comprising a housing having a bore therethrough, a stem extending from said housing through said bore, packing means in the outer end of said bore which is self-regulating against the pressure of fluid in said housing, said means comprising a recess tapering from an outer open end toward said stem, said housing being formed to provide a rim around the open end of said recess, a gland nut connected for adjustment toward said recess, a packing ring in said recess around said stem formed of non-rigid material which assumes the shape of and lls said recess when compressed therein, a resilient washer bearing against said packing ring adjacent its center and being engaged by the forward end of said gland nut in an area around the rim of said washer, said packing ring being of such volume as to extend beyond the open end of said recess and spring the central area of said washer outwardly to maintain compression on said packing ring, the forward face of said gland nut having a central depression to provide for the outward exure of said washer, the outer edge area of said washer being spaced from the rim of said housing surrounding said recess.

3. Equipment of the character described comprising a housing having a bore therethrough, a stem extending through said bore, said bore being enlarged to provide a packing recess tapering from an outer open end toward said stem, and a packing ring of non-rigid material originally formed of rectangular cross section compressed into said recess by a gland follower adjustably connected to said housing, said packing ring when compressed assuming the shape of and filling said recess, there being a resilient washerengaging the outer end portion of the packing in said recess, said gland follower having a forward face bearing against said washer near its rim and having a central recess to provide for bending of the center of said washer outwardly, whereby to maintain regulated compression on said packing.

4. Equipment of the character described comprising a housing having a bore therethrough, a

v stem extending through said bore, said bore being enlarged to provide a packing recess formed by a bowl-like surface tapering from an outer open end toward said stem, a packing ring in said recess originally formed of alternate discs of rubber-like and fabric-like substances disposed in planes substantially normal to the axis of said stem, a gland follower adjustably connected to said housing having a forward face whose inward movement exerts pressure on said packing to deform same to the shape of said bowl recess and stem and to distort the material of said discs from said planes, the outer and inner edges of said rubber discs being forced beyond the corresponding edges of said fabric discs and stretched against the surface of said stem and bowl upon deformation of said packing, to provide sealing rubber contact against said stem and bowl when said packing is compressed in the latter.

ROBERT H. MUELLER.

REFERENCES QITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

